Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Comments (0)     E-mail article     Print view

Handlers prep Palin for first TV interview

Two weeks ago, People magazine was granted an exclusive interview with Sen. John McCain's new running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, of Alaska, who spoke about motherhood, her career and the historic nature of her candidacy.

The New York Times

Palin interview

Charles Gibson's interviews with Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will form the basis of a special prime-time edition of "20/20" at 10 p.m. Friday, ABC said Wednesday. Gibson is traveling to Fairbanks and Wasilla, Alaska, for the first TV interviews with Palin since she was selected as John McCain's running mate. The first excerpts of the talks will be shown on "World News" at 5:30 p.m. today. Gibson plans three separate interviews with Palin, ABC said. Parts of the interviews will be aired on other ABC programs, including "Nightline" and "Good Morning America."

Source: The Associated Press

Two weeks ago, People magazine was granted an exclusive interview with Sen. John McCain's new running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin, of Alaska, who spoke about motherhood, her career and the historic nature of her candidacy.

She has not given an interview since, eschewing the traditional route for a vice-presidential nominee to take to the TV-news interview circuit immediately. Palin will break that blackout today, when she will begin two days of interviews with ABC News anchor Charles Gibson.

She flew back to Alaska on Wednesday, bringing with her a squad of McCain's top policy advisers to help her prepare.

McCain's team hired several veterans from President Bush's campaigns, making them part of a team dedicated to defending Palin from unsubstantiated rumors on the Internet, Democratic claims and potentially damaging news reports about her record.

The McCain campaign is battling news reports that have the potential to undermine the image it has presented of Palin as a reformer who, for instance, shares McCain's unfriendly views toward federally funded pet spending projects known as earmarks.

On Wednesday, a report on Politico.com detailed Palin's requests for federal appropriations as governor, including money for studies on the mating habits of crabs and the DNA of harbor seals, the sorts of projects McCain has lampooned in his own attacks on earmarks.

McCain's campaign sent another team to Alaska to respond more rapidly to such reports. It is headed by Taylor Griffin, who had worked for Bush's 2004 campaign. Another former Bush campaign aide, Tracey Schmitt, is Palin's traveling press secretary. Tucker Eskew, a veteran of Bush's primary campaign against McCain, has been a constant by Palin's side this week.

Among the key people on the Palin plane to Alaska on Wednesday night were Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's economic adviser; Steve Biegun, a former employee of Bush's National Security Council who has taken leave from his day job at Ford Motors to advise Palin; Randy Scheunemann, McCain's senior foreign-policy adviser; and Joe Donoghue, a longtime Senate aide to McCain.

Also on the plane was Nicolle Wallace, a communications director for Bush's 2004 campaign and his White House. Wallace's husband, Mark Wallace, Bush's deputy campaign manager in 2004, is helping prepare Palin for the debate.

For now, prepping for the debate and the Gibson sessions are one and the same, and aides developed a set of presumed questions and answers that they are walking Palin through.

Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail article Print view      Share:    Digg     Newsvine

Comments
No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.

advertising

Climate change speeds up since 1997 Kyoto accord

Children in home day care watching hours of TV, study says

Senate Democrats split on health bill's fate

U.K. started planning early for war, leaked papers show

Vaccine to kill nicotine buzz now in late tests by small drug firm

Advertising

Video

Real Salt Lake wins MLS Cup
Real Salt Lake defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy with penalty kicks after 120 minutes of play at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Raw Video | Real Salt Lake receives the MLS Cup trophy
Raw Video | Real Salt Lake fans celebrate
Real Salt Lake fans enter Qwest Field
Raw Video | MLS Cup Opening Ceremony
LA Galaxy's David Beckham
Real Salt Lake's Kyle Beckerman
MLS trophy arrives in Seattle
Chittenden Locks Inspection
Full interview with New Moon actors

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

Advertising